Otter Creek Store Sale continues

It has been an exciting week here in the Otter Creek world. My life here is coming to an end sooner than expected. I will be closing the doors on one phase of my life and walking into another. I do love being here. It is such a beautiful warm cozy place to spend the day. I love just sitting here in my rocking chair with all this beautiful yarn to inspire me to knit hats, socks and mittens. I keep seeing more combinations I want to try. Do not ask how many I have on needles. I do not count. I just leave them around with the yarn to pick up and knit whenever I get a free moment. Sometimes I sell them unfinished to knitters that want to finish them because they like what I have started.


On Wednesday evening I taught a smart young woman to knit while here children were at their Kung Fu lessons. She took it it immediately. She started on a hat and the next evening she was back with the hat almost done . I told her to return when she was ready to start decreasing. I did not want to add K2tog. to her first lesson. I was so pleased to see her with so much knitting done in just one day. She will be a great knitter. It is sharing the excitement of someone learning a new skill and knowing how this will change their lives forever that makes having this shop worth having. It has never been about $$$ for me. I love teaching when it works.



Every day more folks are coming and taking home tons of yarn to add to their stash. I love seeing everyone. So many folks that I have not seen in a while are returning to knitting now that the snow is starting to fly. The ground is too warm here for any accumulation but just 40 miles north the world is white and frozen. it will not be long.

I have been knitting ear flap hats again. I one in my handspun and one in an imported Italian varigated wool I love working with. I also seem to be knitting more and more cables into my hats. I do not know why my finger just seem to want to do them and I love experimenting with the twists.


I have included a few pictures of the shop. I keep taking pictures so I will have some to look at when I want to remember how lovely it was to spend the day here. It is impossible to capture the wonderful warm atmosphere and beauty that is here.

Wooly Yarn Sale

Our Wooly Yarn Sale November 10 & 11
Saturday 10 - 5 Sunday 12 - 5
It should be fun seeing who comes. I love watching the knitters. They all seem to enjoy the events so much. They seem to love seeing each other and sharing their kitting experiences. You would not believe the amount of excitement is generated by just two sticks and some string. I will admit some of it is pretty exotic and fancy string. Cashmere from goats from the mountains of Mongolia and Tibet. Sheep wool from Australia that has been dyed and spun in China and Japan. The finest italian designer hand painted yarns and rustic handspun and alpaca from Peru, Uraguay and Bolivia. All of this in a little yarn shop in Mercer.
I love this modern world we share. Yarn from all over the world brought here to us to enjoy. We really are rich. I am going to miss all of this I may not be closing the end of December. I will keep you posted. I am proceeding ahead with the sales anyways. I can always buy more yarn besides you all could use a price break for your holiday projects. There is a link to the right to a page with details of the yarn offered for sale and the sale prices.
I tried to email it but there are 5 pages and it is really to big to print out so you can view it on line. Please let me know if the link is not working for you. I will also accept phone orders and mail the yarn to you.
Nancy

My Cat Wakes me up too!

My cat Bob wakes me up very early. So I reach for my ibook and check my email. Yesterday Marla sent me a link to this cartoon since I have complained to her about Bob. I am still learning how to blog and post. I figured it was time for me to learn how to get a You Tube video posted to this blog. It is Sunday morning 5:30 I have been up awhile.

Last week seemed to be a very long week. I seemed to be experiencing some sort of time distortion. It just seemed to drag on and on. My cotton sale continued and we saw several new knitters and some others that were making their yearly visit. Next week I need to start preparing for the wool sale. Nov. 10 & 11 will be coming up faster than I realize. I will make a info sheet to hand out and signs for each yarn on sale. Some of our popular wool yarns like Noro yarns have been selling every day. There may not be much left by the sale week end. We have a good supply of 220 Cascade, Ultra Alpaca, Toas and others. I am sure with our huge inventory folks will find plenty of great yarns to choose from even if the Noro is gone.
I am still working on my UFO projects. I am on the second sock of two different pairs. The one pictured in the previous post is coming along nicely. I am knitting magic loop and I switched to the new Addi Turbo #5 lace needles that came in on Tuesday. I just needed to sample them so I could let you all know that they work really smoothly. One of the perks of owning the shop is getting to try out the new tools right?? My knitting seem to be moving along faster. I really have to force myself to stay away from the new basket of Step Sock Yarn. I keep wanting to start another pair. I really enjoy wearing the Step/green ones I made last winter. They feel so soft on my feet. I wonder how do they embed the Aleo and Jobo into the yarn?? It is 6:03 and Bob is sound asleep in the corner of my bed. I am getting a little sleepy so maybe I will shut down and turn out the lights and see if Bob will let me go back to sleep for a little while.

Remembering Mary Lou and unpacking boxes.

The UPS man brought me two big boxes yesterday. I love unpacking boxes!!! Getting new stuff is the best part of having a shop like mine. One of the boxes was from Skacel with Addi lace needles and Trekking sock yarn, the Red White blue, Stars and Stripes sock yarn and Step sock yarn in a wonderful new fall 07 assortment. Step is the yarn with the aleo vera and jobo oil. Why am I still ordering yarn with the store closing?? I have had so many requests for this yarn. I may continue to sell it on my website.

The other big box had our new books, Ball Winders and other goodies. The new Fall 2007 Books from Interweave Press are really good ones. The Kimino book is wonderful. I want to try a vest but know now is not the time with all the store closing tasks that face me. I would love to help someone else plan and knit one. The Interweave Collection is a keeper and Folk Style and Bag Style are inspiring. Needless to say I did not get much work done yesterday. I kept escaping into the new books whenever I had a spare moment.

New Laurel Burch socks and bags came in with the books. We sold out of our Laurel socks over the week end. If you missed them and still want to reserve some for Christmas presents you can call me and I will send them to you, These socks sell out fast. I was sorry to learn that Laurel Burch died on Sept, 13 after a long illness. You can read about her on her website. Check my link list for a link to her site.

My dear friend Mary Lou passed away on Monday. My heart goes out to all her family and friends as we remember her. She was a very talented actress and singer. She had a wonderful sence of humor and was a joy to be around. She loved to direct plays. She was active in theater in Meadville for most of her life. She directed the Lion King at Grove City High School last year. Her son Ethan is a senior. She was one of the kindest most caring people I have known. She worked as a social worker for Childrens Aid here in Mercer. A truly beautiful person. I will miss her.

It will be raining for the rest of the week here in Mercer. The leaves are still beautiful, not as beautiful as they are when the sun is shining on them but still bright and cherry through the rain. Please come by and knit with me if you can. It is warm and cozy at Otter Creek Store. We can share a cup of tea and look at the new books together.

Nancy

Yarn Sale October

I am getting ready for my first big clearance sale. I will sale off the yarn in several sales this is the first starting with the summer weight yarns. Whatever is left I will list on ebay or box up to tale to knitters fantasy in the spring. Pictured is one of my favorite yarns from Dale of Norway. It is an all season cotton silk rayon blend. Machine washable and beautiful to work with. I havw lots of this yarn as you can see in the picture. This yarn is selling for over $7.00 a skein in shops in the city. I have tried to keep this affordable at 5.95 a skein. It will go on sale this week end for $4.00 a skein. At that price folks may even make a baby blanket out of it or a childs sweater. It is wonderful for tank tops and all season sweaters.

I am a bit nervous about the sale I sent out hundreds of emails and post cards but WILL ANYONE COME?????
I am planning hot cider and some light munchies. I have rearranged the yarn to get the sale yarn organizen into one area of the shop. I need to make some colorful signs for each one so they are easy to see the sale prices. Yesterday I had only 3 customers but the day seemed to fly by anyways. Does anyone read this blog??? If you read this please leave me a message I need encouragement.
Nancy

Working on my UFOs

Hello!
Its a beautiful sunday morning. I have been working on an email message to my knitting friends all morning. I need to send it today sometime. Later today I will work on more UFOs like the socks pictured above.

Last week I finished several UFOs. The Violet Feather and Fan Afghan that I started last March to show off the Merino Stripes Yarn is finished. This was knit from a Ann Norling free pattern from Crystal Palace. It is really beautiful and can be seen at the store on display with the yarn. I know many of you had given up on seeing me ever finish it. Knitting it was effortless, I knitted a 6 row pattern repete a couple times a week when the store was empty and I can hardly beleive it myself, I finished it with only 6 balls of yarn instead of 8. I finished a Noro Tam and an earflap style hat last week also.

Please vote for your favorite yarn. Help me decide which yarns to put in my on line store. I want to pick 5 or 6 of our best sellers to offer online. Email me at ottercreek@mac.com with your suggestions. I really appreciate your feedback.
Nancy

Beautiful cards plus two spinning raks for sale

Hi,
Here is a picture of the card raks I mentioned in my previous post. I am accepting bids on these raks. They are a great addition to any shop. They are filled with cards to make money for you. Email me for info or to make a bid or call me at 724-662-2830 during store hours: 11-6 Tuesday thru Friday. These are top selling cards and the spinners are in great condition.

SALE, Sale Sale Summer Yarn Clearance

Friday October 19 and Saturday the 20th Summer Yarn Clearance, I am working on publishing a list and getting post cards sent to customers. Most cottons yarns will be 20% off we have lots of odd lots of novelty yarns that are 50% off also.



Dear Fiber Friends,
It has been a stressful couple weeks with the future of our store uncertain. I will feel much better once I can get everything settled and know if I need to move and redesign my business again. I am hoping to find someone to sell my business and inventory to before Thanksgiving. If I do I will sell off my fixtures and move my favorite yarns to storage at home and sell through the internet and at special events. I have about a year and 3 months to go before my SSI benefits begin. I will keep you updated on sale dates and special events we are planning to have to clear the bulk of my yarn and gift inventory. If you have a shop and may be interrested in fixtures or inventory please come by and make an offer. I have two nice spinning card racks and a great spinner I use for needles and accessories. I post to my blog weekly you can keep track of me and the latest news. Click on the summer Yarn Sale Link to see some of the yarns that will be featured in our sale. You may also call me with offers or email me a bid on any inventory that may wish to purchase. I would be happy to mail yarn to anyone not able to attend my sale. Please forward this information to your knitting friends. We beautiful yarn from Dale of Norway, Cascade and Crystal Palace, and Classic Elite yarns to sell. All our designer single sheet patterns are buy one get one free. We have sweater kits with free patterns and odd balls at unbeatable prices.

Felted Pumpkin Bowl

The other day a woman cam into the shop looking for a pattern for knitting a pumpkin. After she left I went did a search on google to see what I could find. I found a bunch of patterns . I became interrested in a pattern for a felt basket from MagKnits http://magknits.com/Oct06/patterns/1201.htm The store was empty so I thought I would experiment. The pattern used 300gm, three strans of 220 cascade knit on #13 ndls. I thought that seemed like too much yarn. I used one skein of Lambs Pride bulky and #13 ndls and made it a little smaller. I increases the sections of the pumpkin to only 12 stitches in each wedge instead of 14. I made a bowl instead of a basket with handles.

Sigrid Piroch Weaving at Westminster

Last night Monica and I attended an opening of Sigrid Piroch weavings being exhibited at the Gallery at Westminster College in New Wilmington. It was really nice to see so many old friends and to see Sigrids newest work. She is an amazing weaver. The exhibit will is open to the public for a few weeks. It is well worth the drive to Westminster to see it. The link on the right will lead you to a page with pictures of most of the weavings that are in the show.
You can check out her web site to learn more about her weaving studio in Foxburg. www.artsstudio.org

Otter Creek Fall Knitting Workshops

Entrelac knitting workshop by Pam Mahany
Saturday Morning Sept. 8 10:00
Entrelac is a series of building blocks, one row leaning right and one leaning left. It's started with a straight cast-on, then a row of triangles for a foundation. Then alternating rows, starting with an intial triangle, then rectangles, and ending with a row of triangles. It is most easily done with short rows - increasing rather than decreasing short rows. Entrelac is wonderful with self striping yarn like Noro or Toas. You will knit a small sample to learn the technique. This is not for beginners but it is not as difficult as it looks. You will need to bring # 7 or 8 needles and one ball of Kuryon or Silk Garden or several colors of worsted yarn.

Knit Along Jacket Group
Monica Ondrusko will lead a jacket knit along class on Thursday afternoons.
You will choose one of two jackets, Einstein Jacket or the short jacket knit side to side/ cuff to cuff, featured in The Knitting Experience Book 1 The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville. You will need a copy of the book, yarn and needles. Fee is $40.00



Knitting Around Workshop with Nancy Griffin
Sock, mittens or fingerless gloves, Wednesday Afternoon
Knit with 4 needles or try using the magic loop on one circular needle. Seamless knit in the round techniques will be explored. You can to choose to knit socks or mittens. Self striping yarn or learn to create your own patterns with two colors of yarn. The fee is $40.00 the class meets every Wednesday afternoon. Come as often as you can over the next two months. Let us help you make some really cool gifts for the holidays. Everyone appreciates a beautiful handmade pair of socks , glover or mittens. They are easy to make and carry with you to knit wherever you go. You will be surprised at how fast you can get a pair made if you take them along and knit in the car or anywhere


Saturday afternoon knitters meet up continues in September
Sit and knit or crochet every Saturday 2 - 4. no fee
See what's new!! Read the latest magazines. Make a swatch with our newest yarns. Plan your next project with a little help from your new Knitting and Crochet friends. Have a cup of tea and just relax Help someone, share your skills, pass on traditions, get encouragement and meet up with like minded creative folks inspiring each other. Escape from your world into ours.

Otter Creek For Sale Sign

Meet Emmit out new kitten. This little guy loves knitted mice and his felted kitty bed.


Well its been a week since the Sale Sign went into the window. What a week! Everyone that comes in seems concerned. I did not know I would be missed so much. Although many of our customers only visit once or twice a year they look forward to coming. Some have been coming for many years. Two people yeaterday told me that every year when they come to visit family in our area they visit our store. They look forward to coming as part of their trip to Western Penna.
I did not think having the sign would create such interest. Almost every day someone has come by that is interested in buying our business. The store may sell sooner than I expected. In any case I am still going to be living in Mercer and will be part of all the local Knitters, Spinners and Weavers gatherings, guild meetings and our Monday group will continue. I will be helping Carol Capy sell her soap at the Farmers Market and at her shows. I plan to have a booth at the PGH Knit Fest in February and Knitters Fantasy in April.

Fall Knitting Workshops. I will post details soon. Pam Mahany Workshop in September.
Wednesday knitting around with Nancy, Socks Mittens and Gloves.
Jackets from the Knit Stitch book on Thursdays afternoon with Monica.
Charity Knitters would like to continue on Friday evenings. Perhaps a dinner meeting once a month?
Please email me if you are interested in coming to classes or gatherings.

Otter Creek Anniversary 20 years

Hi Friends of Otter Creek,
On August 1 1987 I rented a small store front on South Diamond Street in Mercer across from the back entrance of the Mercer County Court House. My idea was to have a studio to work and teach. The back room was a studio and a small retail space in the front of the store would work to sell my left over handspun yarn and spinning and weaving supplies. I stocked the store with other craft items from friends and Otter Creek Store was established. That was 20 years ago.

The August the 26th will be my 40th year married to Tom. I spent half of my married life working at Otter Creek Store. Wow ! I did not plan to live this way it just happened. I have been living my life one day at a time since I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989. I did not think I would be seeing my 50th birthday. So I did not plan for retirement.

A couple years ago I started to tell my friends that I wanted to retire from Otter Creek but did nothing to hasten the process. Now I am 60 and I need to start finding someone to pass this job on to. With no likely candidates in sight I listed my business with Caldwell Banker. The sign arrived this week as you can see in the photo below.
It may take a couple years to find a buyer and I want to keep the business growing and healthy so it can go on without me. It took a long time to become established and I feel that it is a worthwhile business to keep going. I thought I should email you all so when you see the sign in the window you will not be shocked. Some of you have been coming here for a long time.

Our store is open and running as usual. I am still stocking the shelves with new yarn and gifts are coming in for the holidays. I am working on new fall classes to inspire knitters and will be updating the web pages and blogg soon.


Several folks thought that maybe I was ill. No, as far as I know I am aging normally, but that is the problem. I am just tired and need more time with Tom and my garden.

Thank you for suporting my store and letting me be a small part of your life.
Please come and visit soon, bring your knitting, we have air conditioning so its still cool here to come by and stay awhile.
Love,
Nancy

Friday Charity Knitting Nights

I am sorry I missed Charity Knitting Friday July 6. I was on vacation. Last Friday July 13 was great.
Several folks who did not know about our store came by to see what was going on. Some took yarn back to their seats to knit.
We also met knitters that were on vacation in Mercer visiting family and came to the concert . They were happy to see our store and folks knitting. I feel that hosting Charity Knitting during the band concerts has been a good thing. Everyone that comes seams to enjoy the evening. Next week is the beginning of out Victorian Week End Festival. I expect more knitters will come once that they discover us. Below I have posted the general information I sent.

Friday Charity Knit and Crochet.
On Friday when there is a concerts at the bandstand in the park across the street from our store.
We will sit at an Umbrella table on the sidewalk in front of our store and listen to the music while we knit. If you love to knit as I do and enjoy knitting small projects out of your scraps between your more serious knits consider joining us for charity knitting at Otter Creek.. If you are involved knitting for a charity bring whatever you are knitting and join us. Please bring a lawn chair if you have one.
We all need not be knitting for the same project.
Some of the knitters from our Monday Knitting Group are knitting baby blankets for Navy Relief with Ellen Oehlbeck. I am collecting Caps for Kids and will be taking the caps to Knitters Fantasy. I spoke with someone from the Mercer County Red Cross and found out that they always need afghans for disaster relief. I down loaded some patterns from Warm Up America for us to we use for knit squares for afghans. If you are at the concert but did not bring any yarn etc with you. We have yarn, needles and hooks you can use to begin a square if just wants to stop by and join us for a little while.
If you want to learn to knit or crochet we can teach you during the concert.

I just finished two hats in Black and Gold, (Pgh Steeler Colors). I am putting together a kit of Ultra Alpaca and the patterns for these hats. The Kit is $15.00 it includes three colors of yarn and my original pattern.

We had a busy week here at the Otter Creek Store. Last night was the first summer Community Band Concert on the Square. We had Charity Knitting night in front of the store. We had a lively group happily knitting Afghan Squares for the Red Cross listening to the music and knitting away. The desert was wonderful home made pie and IceCream from the Girl Scouts Booth across the street. Each Friday Evening a different group has an Old Fashion Ice Cream Social in the park during the Friday Evening Concerts. The Community Band was excellent.

Here we are knitting outside the store on World Wide Knit Out, We had a wonderful group of enthuiastic knitters.
Many wonderful items for show and tell. I made two felt bags yesterday. Felted them this morning. The multi colored one is Noro + Merino wool 150 gms of yarn. The little blue one is one 100 gm skein of Merino wool. This is my newest pattern. I am calling it the Wedgy Bag I will knit a couple more to work out the details. I am not happy with the handles and am adjusting the size. I want a small bag somewhere between these two.

Word Wide Knit in Public Day

On this day, knitters world-wide are encouraged to take their knitting to a public place and knit. Many knitters will get together as a group. Check out the Worldwide Knit in Public Day website http://wwkipday.com/to see if their is a group get together in your area. In honor of Worldwide Knit In Public Day.    I am hosting at Knit out at in Mercer, PA at 139 N. Diamond Street
Otter Creek Store Saturday Afternoon.  2:00 - 5:00   I will offer a 10% discount on all yarn purchased June 9 Plus a free mystery gift to any knitter that brings one of your completed projects for our display table and show and tell. This should be fun getting to see what everyone has been knitting. If the weather is good we will knit outside the store. We have a nice tree and extra wide sidewalk and a sun umbrella.
I just got a shipment of Noro Yarn yesterday. The new colors of Kureyon and Silk Garden are beautiful. I could not choose one to start knitting. I want to knit a few small felt bags. If you have any patterns to share or ideas for small felt bags please send them on to me.
Please email me if you plan to come on Saturday. Phone 724-662-2830 I would love to have an idea of how many Mystery Gifts I need to wrap.

Knitting for Peace

Hi,
just a quick note to let you all know that I am still planning on Charity Knitting or Knitting for Peace on Friday evening June 1 and during the Band Stand Concerts 6:30 - 8:00 in front of our store. The book Knitting for Peace is in the window of the store. You are welcome to come in and look it over. it has lots of patterns and good caused to knit for.
My plans for a project are still not decided. If we cannot decide we could do squares in wool and acrylic, Acrylic for the Local Red Cross and wool for the Afghans for Afghans. Go to the Warm up America website for instructions on making squares. 7" x 9" knit or crochet. If you have a charity project on your needles bring it along. We need not all be working for the same cause or group.

I hope you all enjoy reading about Major Laura a knitter in Irak, knitting socks in the new issue of Knitting Daily from Interweave Press. If you do not subscribe to this new online news newsletter email me and I will forward the info to you.

Nancy Griffin
724-662-2830
Tues. - Fri. 11 - 6 Sat. 10 - 4
www.ottercreekstore.com

New Bamboo Yarn and patterns.

Knit a sweater of Stella along with us. This soft bamboo yarn has 191 yards . Cost to knit the sweaters in the patterns below is between $36.00-$45.00 Needle size #3. I know that seems small but it is really only as much knitting as two pair of socks.

New Cotton Yarn spilling into baskets.

I need to find more spaces for all the new cotton yarn. We just got in a new shipment of one of our most popular baby yarns.
Knitters love that it is chunky enough to knit up quickly and it is all natural to please most natural fiber lover. As many modern new mothers are.
cottontots is a popolar yarn to knit baby blankets,
100% cotton 171 yds.100gms/3.5oz. $3.40
Gauge 20 sts - 26 rows = 4" (10 cm)
Knitting Needle #7 Crochet Hook 4.50 mm, US - 7
and its completely Machine washable, this is a very affordable soft cotton.



100% cotton yarn from Swedish Yarn Imports. It comes in 50gm balls 88yds knits up on #7 ot 8 ndls. A quality cotton for $3.50 per ball. A great yarn to knit up a quick summer tank top or childs sweater. Come and check out the beautiful bright colors for summer.

The last week of April, socks

Last week was a sock week. Katie M. brought some wonderful knee sock she just finished. A lovely feather fan pattern knit from Clown from Swedish Yarn Imports a soft light weight summer cotton+wool self striping yarn, that we sell at Otter Creek. The other was a beautiful pink sock knit in a cable pattern. She was wearing socks knit from Trekking rainbow colored self striping yarn Thank your Katie for sharing your socks with us.







I finally finished my Step Yarn Green socks knitted toe up. This was a new pattern and i had to rip it out twice to turn the heel knitted in reverse from the toe up.

Not Just Sock Class

Pictures from Margarets Class Not Just Socks

Knitters Fantasy April 14 Warren OH

It is Monday morning. Snow is falling outside. The grass and trees are just covered. This has never happened so late in April here before in the 30 years I have lived in Mercer.
I am so glad it did not snow on Saturday. The 12 Annual Knitters Fantasy workshop day and sale was a huge success. Over 400 knitters came. This is a very well organized event hosted by three knitting guilds in eastern OHIO. This year the Northcoast Knitting Guild was in charge. The guilds rotate the responsibility for hosting the event and I feel this is how they keep from burning out and the show just gets better and better every year.
I taught a class: gauge mysteries revealed. I hope the knitters found my take on knitting gauge and designing a sweater helpful. Please email me if you took my class and have questions.
Otter Creek Store had two tables of yarn for sale. I chose three main yarns to display, Toas and Merino Strioes from Crystal Palace, and Ultra Alpaca from Berrocco. These three yarn were new last fall and were the most popular new yarns in our shop. The booth needs to be simple because the knitters do not have much time to shop between classes. The knitters arrive at 8am, they register and go to their class from 9 - 11:30 and 1:30 -4:00 With Lunch and a Fabulous Fashion Show in the center of the Market during lunch. The market is around the edge of the Vo-Tech School Cafeteria. Our booth was so busy I did not see the fashion show. At one point I tried to direct s shoppers attention to the fashion show so I could see it too. These knitters were serious shoppers and wanted to buy yarn NOW! Pat Jones who always makes a fantastic knit outfit for the show each year said she would email me a picture since I missed seeing her. If any other knitters reading this have photos of the show please email them to me. I feel so bad that I missed seeing the show. I look forward it. I love seeing what everyone has made it is so inspiring. I need to go now. I will post pictures if you folks of knitters fantasy if anyone send me some.

Knit Easter Eggs from Ellen

KNITTED EASTER EGGS 
Materials: Set of #2 double pointed needles Sports wt. Yarn, 3” long, 6 ?” wide plastic eggs
 
Starting at bottom, with blue and double pointed needles,
Cast on 18 sts.
Divide sts 6sts each needle.
Join sts and work in rounds of k1, p1 ribbing until piece measures ?” from      beginning.
Knit next rnd, inc 1 st in each st around. (36sts).
Attach white,yarn, but do not fasten off blue.
Knit next round with white .
Next rnd; *(K1 white, K1 blue) around.
Knit one rnd white,
Pick up blue, knit one round blue.
Next rnd;  (K1 blue, K1 white) around.
Knit one round blue.
Pick up white, knit one round white.
Next rnd; (K1 white, K1 blue) around.
Knit one round white.*  Repeat from * Once.
Drop white, knit one round blue.
Next rnd; K2 tog around – 18sts. 
Insert plastic egg.
K1, p1 around for ? inch.
Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch-long tail.  Using yarn needle lace through stitches on last round then pull to close end of egg. Fasten off.

Finishing up the UFOs

I have lots and lots of unfinished knitting sitting around the shop. Sometimes I start socks just to let customers see what the yarn will look like. The ones here were started to show how to start a toe up sock. These socks have been on the needles for over a year. So I am finally getting them finished so I will have new socks to wear. These socks are sometimes called two toe socks because the heels are added later and knit the same way you knit a toe. I am not sure what color to make the heels. Black or red?? Blue would work too.
I will check the stash for left over yarn and see what I can find.

Yarn Harlot visits Pittsburgh

Robin send me these pictures taken with her cell phone. Robin with Stephanie and a shot of the crowd while Steph was speaking.


Saturday at the yarn shop was a little slow. It is after all the last day of the month and some retirement checks cannot be cashed till Monday. Business should pick up next week. Being it was one of the first nice days of spring not many knitters were out hunting for yarn today. I expect a lot of knitters were out in their gardens looking at the daffodils and pruning their roses and whatever else you do in the garden in Spring. I would have been happy to be in my garden this afternoon but the store hours must be kept. I did have several knitters and one weaver visit and buy yarn. We also had a friendly group of knitters at the table enjoying knitting at the store and seeing each others creations. Joan stopped by to show off her socks from Margarets Sock class. and another knitter brought in her new finished Crystal Palace Merino Frappe Jacket. Judy needed help choosing yarn for a baby blanket for Kim. Robin and her Mom came by to knit for awhile. The time flew by. I am exhausted.
I could not even think about cooking. I picked up Chinese food on the way home.
I am really wipped, I am just not used to staying up late(2am). Last night Margaret, Robin and I went to Pittsburgh to Joseph-Beth Booksellers at SouthSide Works to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. I bought her new book and had her sign it. There were lots and lots, maybe a hundred or more knitters there for the book signing. Her lecture was great. She is very perceptive and funny. It was exciting to be with all the knitters. I forgot my camera but Robin took photos and promised to email them to me . I will post them when I get them. You can read about Stephanie's impressions of Pgh on her blog Yarn Harlot. It is a really cool blogg. Check it out, You will be delighted. Her New Book, Casts Off the Yarn Harlots Guide to the land of knitting, is a hoot. I love her impressions of the knitting world. Enough for tonight. By the time we got out of the booksigning it was after 9 and since we left right after work, everyone was starved so we went to a cool restrauant at SouthSide Works. It is over an hour drive from Mercer to the city so it was very late when I got home. I was so energized from the big night out in the big city, I could not sleep. Now I am the walking dead so goood niiiight. I will try to post more often this next month. I am still learning how to do this.

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

Pictures taken Feb.19 of Otter Creek

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.

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.

Ellens Sweater

Ellen knit this beautiful sweater for the Store It is knit from Dream an wonderful yarn
that is a blend of microfibers and angora.